Football-game bulletin board



Jan, 6, 1925.

J. MUELLER ET AL FOOTBALL GAME BULLETIN BOARD 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 5. 1921 IN VEN TORS M d/ FM 6 1 RN m m N N 0,.V. an? m W m m g Q 9. m c w z u [Q fix" @255 fizhmr m N| m l A A 9 22.3 ZSQE J z m VN mm w E22 222: m 8x5, E2523 IH m 35F Q F 2.5%: Q @Q was; 2:5 mmfi \Q\ v W v s F 'QQZIYA 71 M flu; ATTORNEY.

F. J. MUELLER ET AL FOOTBALL GAME BULLETIN BOARD Jan, 6, 1925.

Original Filed Dc. 3, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.$.

MA P' 773% ATTORNEY? 4 Sheets' Shet 5 Jan, 6, F J. MUELLER ET AL FOOTBALL GAME BULLETIN BOARD Original Filed Dec. 3. 1921 "5M i WW2 I By W we d/M08 Zfiuly ATTORNEY.

Jan. 6, 1925.

F. J. MUELLER ET AL FOOTBALL GAME BULLETIN BOARD Original Filed Dec. :5, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TORS.

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I ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan, 6, 1925.

UNliT ED S T T FOOTBALL-QAME Application filed December 3, 1921, Serial To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that we, FREDERIGKJ. MUEL- Lea and MILTON C..F1snnR, citizens of the United States, residing at Rock Isl'a-1id,.,1' n the county of Rock Island andStateof'IllP nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Football-Game Bulletin Board, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a bulletin board for foot-ball games, by the use of whichthere may be displayed the plays andmoveinents .o-f aregular game, in such a manner that they may be readily discerned by a considerable number of people in the vicinity of the. board. By the use thereof games which are beingplayed at a distance can be de' picted play by play, for the edification of those who are interested in the progress and outcome of thegame.

One of the purposes of the invention is to provide a suitable, board of suflicientsize so thatthe plays which. are being'indic'ated thereon may be discerned bya' multitude of observers'who are near the same, said board having displayed thereon the representation of a foot-ball lield, 'andbeing'provided on its face with a mechanically controlled object by means of which the usual movements of a football may be'indicated;

l-inotherpurpose of the device-consists in the supportof a pair of objects, one oneach side of the'board, insuch' a manner-that the movement of; one. ofsuch objects :in any: di-

rectioi'rwill be followed at once by a corre spending movementofthe' other of'sa-id'oibjec'ts, said means including,automaticdevices for holding saidobjects normally at a central or neutral-position, and": forreturning the sametheretowvhen, the fortunes of the game require it.

Anotherfeature of the invention consists in the arrangement at each end of the board ofseries of openings capable of receiving cards containingthe names of the contesting teams and the names ofthe players thereon,- inconnection with which pockets are provided to receive small: cards; indicating. the number of points made. by" each. of such plays ers,- as the same are scored.

Another object of the invention is to provide the board with. groups of display spaces, in which may be posted cards or platesshowing various playsand conditions of the game, such-cards beingpositionedfrom the rear of the board, throughjopenings therein. These .BULLETJIIN BOARD i No. 519,584. Renewed November 26,1924;

are preferably arranged at the'end-orends ofthe board, but similar openings are provided on the main part of the boardforshowing-other feat-ares and-conditions'of the game,- as will hereinaftermore 'fully' appear.

Another purpose of the invention is to have the movement of the ball, and the disclosureof other c1rcumstances-pertaining thereto, carried on by operators in rear 0fthe board, and entirely concealed thereby;

adding greatly to the interest ofthegame,

as viewed by those in-front of the-boarda' In the drawings a tlOll'.

Fig. is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a top edge view of the device; Fig. l shows portion of the-rear face of the invention, enlarged Fig-.- 5 is a cross-section of one of the drums 7.

Fig. 1 shows the intention infront eleva' Fig. '6 is a horizontal sectionthrough one ofthe pockets at the upper part'of theboard and the-plates contained therein.

Similar parts of the device areindica ted by corresponding reference characters throughoutthe several figures.

1 represents a base or, platform, upon which is support-edin a vertical position a board2, upon the'front face of which is portrayed a foot-ball fieldforgrid-iion, as inadvance of such board, leaving narrow gaps between the ends of the board andthe: adjacent edges-of the extensions; In the r-ear faces ofsaid extensions-, near the outer cornersthereof, are rigidly secured shafts 6, upon which are rotatably mounted twin drums 7. Upon one set of said drumsare' wound the ends of cords 8, which extend to a point of intersection in front of the board 2, centrally ofthe field 3. cords at their point of intersection is; a small object 9, easily discernible, and preferably in the form of a miniature foot-ball. By using a white object and giving to the field 3 a dark color the, contrast will make the ballmore easily distinguished.

Similar cords 10; are wound at. their ends upon therear set of drums, marked 7 for Fixed to such 1 distinction, such cords passing in rear of the board 2 to a central point thereof, where they are attached to a plate 11, from which projects rearwardly a handle 12. The rear face of the board 2 is likewise provided with the design of a foot-ball field, corresponding in size and position with the field 3 on the front of the board. This is shown at 13.

The drums 7 are each'fitted with stored power devices, consisting, in the embodiment shown and described herein, of coiled springs 14, attached at one of their ends to said drums, and at their other ends to the shafts 6. (Fig. 5.) The tension of the springs in all of the drums is so adjusted that the ob- ,ject 9 on one side of the board and the handle 12 on the opposite side. will be held normally at a central point. In other words, the springs at one end of the board counterbalance those at the other end. If the handle 12 is moved longitudinally of the board it will result in the unwinding of the cords 10 at that end, with an increase in the tension of the springs in the drums at that end, while at the other end of the board the cords will be wound up, and the tension of the springs in the drums correspondingly diminished. As a consequence, if the handle 12 is released, it will be returned at once to a central position. In the same manner-the handle 12 can be moved upwardly or downwardly, or in a diagonal direction, so that it is possible to move such handle to any part of the field, or beyond the boundaries of the field at either end or at the sides.

It will be evident that the movement of the handle 12 will be accompanied by a corresponding movement of the object 9, and that if an operator at the rear of the board indicates with said handle the movement of a foot-ball on the field 13, the play will be duplicated on the field 3 by the ball 9. By this means ifthe operator is supplied with the necessary information in regard to the progress of the game he can impart the same to the spectators in front of the board.

The wings 1 and 5 are each fitted with a series of openings 15 and 16, having guides at their edges to receive sets of cards, the upper cards 17 and 18 being intended to disclose the names of the contending teams, and the remaining cards 19 and 20 bearing the names of the various players thereof. Such cards are removably held in place so as to permit of the removal and replacement of the cards, as may be required. At the ends of the several openings are letters indicating. the positions of the various players, and pockets 21 are provided at the inner ends of said openings in which may be placed small cards, as shown at 22, Fig. 1, to show the number of points made by a player.

13y moving the name-card of one ofthe players a little out of position thefact can be communicated that such player is having a part in the play that is being made, and similarly, by moving the card at the top of the column out of place it can be shown which side is in possession of the ball.

At the ends of the board are pairs of pockets 23, having openings or slits in their adjacent edges through which cards maybe introduced into the space between such pockets, to indicate the number of Yards lost by a player, such designation appearing on the board just above the pockets. In the same way Yards gained and Yards needed can be indicated by means of cards in pockets 24: and 25, and the number of Downs can be shown at 26. This information relates to the actions of an individual player, and need be arranged at one end of the board only, if desired, or at a central point on said board.

At the bottom of the board 2 are small frames 27, representing the several quarters in which the game is played, in which may be inserted from the rear small cards indicating the number of scores for each quar toigalso frames 28, in which may be dis-- closed the total scores of each team.

Extending vertically in rear of the players names are metal straps 29, secured at top and bottom to the wings 4 and 5, and provided with lettering opposite the several names, showing the positions of the players, the same as on the front of the board. The rear faces of the name-cards canalso have attached thereto'small paper tabs, as shown at 30, by n'ieans of which such cards can be moved in the openings.

At the top of the board 2 is a series of pockets 31, 32, 33, 3a and 35, each containing a set of plates providedon their outer faces with designations of various movements of the balls and operations of the players. Each pocket is formed by striking out a portion of thematerial of the board, as shown at 36, and the space thus formed contains a number of plates 37 each provided with an ear 38 by means of which it may be manipulated. N hen it is desired to show what the play is, corresponding plate 37 is slipped to one side through the opening in the side of the pocket, so that the wording thereon will be disclosed above the field 3, as shown in Fig. 1. The various plays and circumstances are grouped in such a way as to permit the combination of two or more happenings connected with a single play of the ball. For instance, the plates contained in pocket 31 relate to the disposition. of the ball, as whether a kickoff, drop-kick, etc., and on the rearface of the board are suitable markings in line with the several ears on the plates, so that the operator can readily tell which plate is to be moved.

In Fig. 1 three of the plates are shown exposed, indicating at35that an end run has just been made, and at 32 that it was made ill) l cences round the right end. The plate at 33 shows that the player was tackled. The arrangement of the face of the board further indicates that the Independents have the ball, that Johnson is the player-who made the run, and that he was tackled by Bolan of the other team. It also appears at the right end of the board that there were sixteen yards gained, with two downs, and six yards needed. 7

The marking on the front of either of the plates 37 is repeated on the back of the plate next in front thereof, (see Fig. 2) thus indicating to the operator that the right plate has been exposed. When the second plate from the rear is moved outwardly it is accompanied by the first plate, which is concealed by it, and when it is desired to expose the plate farthest to the front all of the other. plates are necessarily moved therewith. The duplicatemarking for this last plate is on the inner face of the pocket-plate 36. The name cards are also marked on their backs for the convenience of the operat0r,.as are the cards containing numbers.

The board 2 and its extensions are preferably formed of sheet-metal, provided with angle-plate frames on their rear faces.

The arrangement of the various designating cards and plates, as shown in the drawings herein, is for the purpose of illustrationv chiefly, and changes can be made in the location and manner of arrangement thereof without departing from the general scope of the invention.

It is not essential that the drums T and 7 shall be integrally formed, as the devices for controlling the action of the ball 9 and handle 12 may be separate mechanisms. In the joint'operation of the handle and ball, however, it is necessary that the drums be at least operatively connected. It will be evident that if the cords 10 were to be dis connected the ball 9 could still be manipulated by an operator standing in front of the board. This would not be practical, however, as a large part of the board would be concealed by the body of the operator.

Two or more operators are essential to the successful working of the board, one of whom manipulates the handle 12, changing the position of the ball, and the other or others of whom are required to shift the various cards and plates. It will be obvious that thiscan all be accon'iplished from the rear of the board, with the operators concealed thereby, as hereinbefore mew tioned.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the class descri -i-P-d. a vertically mounted board, provided on its front face with the diagram of a foot-ball field; a double system ofspring-balanced cords, on opposite sides of said boardyso as to intersect at a central point ofxsaiidi thereon, and provided with an indicator at their point of intersection; and a second ary system of spring-balanced cords, operatively connected with said first-namedsystem, connected at a central point on said board, in rear thereof; and a guiding member attached to said last-named cords at the point of junction thereof, by means of which the indicator in front of the board may be manipulated. v

3. In a device of the class described, a vertically mounted board, provided 011 its opposite faces with diagrams of a foot-ball field, in register with each other; twin drums rotatably mounted at opposite corners of said board; two systems of cords on opposite sides of said board, operatively connected with said drums and uniting at a central point on said fields; an indicating object secured to the cords in front of said board, at said central point; a controlling member attached to the cords in rear of said board, at said central point; and tension devices in said drums, tending to return said indicating object and controlling member I to a central point whenever they are moved. therefrom.

4. In a device of the class described, a vertically mounted board, provided on its opposite faces with diagrams of a footsupport a pair of objects in frontof said fields; and stored power mechanism in said drums, holding said objects normally at a central point on said fields, the movement of said objects away from either of said drums tending to increase the tension of'the mechanism therein, and correspondingly decrease the tension of the mechanism in the drums toward which said objects move.

5. In a device of the class described, a vertically mounted board provided with a diagram of a foot-ball field on its front face; twin drums rotatably mounted at the corners of said board; stored power devices in said drums controlling the action thereof; two sets of diametrically opposed on said cords uniting said drums and capable of being alternately wound or unwound thereon; an indicating object carried by one set of cords in front of said board; and a controlling member connected with the other set of cords in rear of said board; the tension of said storedpower devices tending to hold said indicating object and controlling member normally at a central point board, the movement of said elements away from such central point operating to increase the tension of said stored power devices in one direction and correspondingly decrease the same in the opposite direction, with a tendency to keep the force of said devices always equalized.

In testimony whereof we allix our signature. V

FREDERICK J. MUELLER. MILTON C. FISHER. 

